Universal gas valve



July 7, 1959 l. V. BRUMBVAUGH UNIVERSAL GAS VALVE Filed Aug. 25, 1955 27 s 37 28 AY :a

32 le 3424 l x ,//7`

. INVENTOR Isaac V. Brumbaugh og-Wom/ ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent() This linvention relatesr to improved valves and, 'particularly, to gas valves that are adjustable to a wide variety of` fluids and pressures. These'valves are particularly useful to control the burners of kitchen ranges, but it is to be understood that they are adaptable to many other uses.

In the manufacture and use ofl gas appliances, there has long existeda need for adjustable valves that can be used universally and, regardless of the source, pressure,y

and type of inflammable fluid used, provide a predetermined heat for a given setting of the valve handle. The valves in todays kitchen ranges commonly have no markings. These valves typically consist of a simple inlet and outlet anda plug having a single passage therethrough positioned within the casing and adapted at times to connect the inlet opening with the outlet opening. 'Adjustm'ent or"turndown 'of the flame is accomplished by partial closing or constriction of the passageway by the process of turning the plug so that the passage through it is displaced vslightly out of registration with the ports in the casing. When installed in diierent communities where gas pressures vary and the type ofcombustible gas available is different, a wide variety of flames are obtained for any particular setting of the valve handle. Similarly, Whenusing the conventional valve, =the llame cannot be accurately controlled. When turning the handle of conventional valves, a more-or-less constant ame is obtained until the handle has been turned about 170 degrees of rotation; between 170 and `200 degrees, nearly full pressure is obtained. Thus, theam'egoes from nearsimmer -to full-on in a relatively slight turn of the handle. As a result, it is nearly impossible to obtain even approximately the same ame yeach time the valve is set, which is a great inconvenience when preparing food on a kitchen range. f

In U.S. Patents 2,626,160, 2,650,610, 2,650,612,v and 2,650,613, valves aredisclosed in which the gas may not only `be turned lon and olf, but also the size of'the ilame may be varied uniformlyas the valve isrotated between the oi and on positions. These valves'may have dial knobs on which various: numbers are placed and thus for a'give'n setting of the valve handle'the llame provides a predetermined amount of heat. They are also adjustable so that the valve may be adjusted in accordance with'the source of the fluid available, "and for a given setting of the valve handle the valve may be adjusted to provide a predetermined amount' of heat regardless of the source of uid. l f

It hasbeen found that by means of the valves of the present invention, improved accuracy andadjustability may-be attained over 'the valves disclosed 'in the aboveidentified patents.

`Th'evalves ofthe present invention are madey of parts that are easily.'` reproducible by todays' production methods,'and are easily assembled and adjusted. They are muchfless susceptible to incorrect assembly and ad# justment than the prior-art valveA .These valvesv accurately control the size of a ame, as` it is varied uniformly between the onv andotfl1 positions. They-are also ice adjustable so that for a given setting of the valve handle the valve may be adjusted to provide a predetermined amount of heat, regardless of the source of gas.

The valves of the present invention are generally chari i acterized by the metering effect of a tapered port which is opened or closed to the flow of fluid by the longitudi- "nal movement of a sleeve. Specifically, the following arev embodiments of the present valves:

Positioned in a valve casing which is provided with inlet and outlet ports is a hollow, rotatable valve plug provided with an elongated slot, which cooperates lwith the inlet port when rotated, to allow iluid to ilow into the valve. Also positioned within the casing is `a hollow cuplike sleeve, formed with a tapered port.: 'The sleeve is,l partially telescoped into the plug and is threaded to a p screw attached to the plug, but is keyed to the casing ,soV `-that'it does not rotate with the plug. The sleeve` thus moves longitudinally in accordance with the pitch of the threads which attach the 'sleeve 4to the rotating plug.

This motion adjusts an opening created by the tapered port so that the rear edge of the plug increases 'or de- L*creases the area through which gas passes,` andl thus meters the gas in accordance Withthe' position of the sleeve relativey to the plug. Means are also provided to vary the longitudinalposition of the sleeve relative to the plug, so that the flame for the simmer-position and for l the other positions may be adjusted to compensate for 'when turning the valve.

gases of different heating values. Y by adjusting the longitudinal positions of the screw, which is connected to the sleeve, and which rotates with the plug and provides the longitudinal movement of the sleeve In one embodiment, this screw is attached to the plug through an opening in the head of the main screw, and is threaded in the plug. A screw exerts pressure on the head of the main screw,

pushing it forward in the valve, but allows the main sc revv' some leeway to move longitudinally.' A third screw angularly positioned and extending through the plug, Y.

exerts pressure-to force the main screw toward the rear 4 of the valve. Thus, an adjustment of theangularly posi tioned screw adjusts the position of the main screw and the sleeve in either direction longitudinally which adjusts the opening created by the tapered port and the rear edge of the plug for a given setting of the valve.

In another embodiment, the hollow sleeve contains a -threaded projection extending forwardly fromrthe center of the sleevev andthreaded into the end of a rod which is positioned concentrically through the plug. The rod rotates with the plug, thus effecting longitudinal movel A longitudinal adjustment of the concentric rod, by turning, adjusts the longitudinal position of the sleeve, so that the llame can be adjusted to a given heat for :In @the embodiments mentioned above, a metering etlectwis accomplished by restricting or widening the area of tapered port through which the liuid must pass.

The area of theV tapered port available for uid flow is determined by the longitudinal position of a tube or cup-shaped member and the longitudinal movementof this member is accomplished by rotational movement of a threaded area.` -f It should be noted that in each case the port is so placed that the most restrictedor pointed area is the last to `be covered by the longitudinal: movement of the sleeve, or t-ube in turningoi of the valve. Only the pit or smallest portion isexposed when the knob is set at the simmer position.

The primary object of this invention is, therefore, to provide a gas valve that will vary the ow of gas 'uniformly as on position.

`Another object isto provide af valvejivhichcan* Patented July This is accomplished by another screw which slips i spring about the head of this any setting of the knob.

the valveis rotated between o fand' be adjusted solthat'fr a given setting of the valve handle"'tle""re"provides apredetermined amountof heat'.l

Another object is to provide a valve in which relative- 1y large, numbers of: predetermined heat-rendering: flames arecsereefyeiy pessime Al" aber Qbjeet i to manufacture, and adjust;

'ther Objectis` to providca, valve which opl era es ori the principle ofa tapered port in al slieeye,

cfpsie or iongifudinarmevemeat effected' by. ure-pieni of azthrsaded.,

vby cooperation with' 'Y a long'tudinally staobject, is' 'to'. provide" va Valve which.' operates olii' rinciple' of i aA 1".apeiied' port v in'.V a-f sleeve which *col opfer ,with another rr'iembe'rtoV opefforclosei'the. area tclv of a threaded "area, in whicli'the position ofthe ailijistec i` longitudinally sof as toY change. the areaavail-V ablt yf1-"ili'licl flow atany setting'ofthevalVefknob.

F` herl objects and advantageous features are ap# preni fror the fllowingfspecication aridcl'a'inis.V

Eig'.y 1" isfa longitudinal sectional. view of the ,rigzvzis 'a view' in venten secties Qf" the, forwardf fis a' vievv in, vertica1 section o'fWtherearfjendf I 7 isf af longitudinal 'sectional view similar to Fig.

l'sh ngfan valternative,form of thevalye.

Kfr'igto; Fig. 1, a hollow valve casing,v 11 has aiil'ilet'p"c rt 12y and .ang outlet port 13. The inlet port IZIfentes'through a downwardly extendingyinlet boss lfwhich maybe connected toy an inlet gas manifold (not. shown).l The outlet port 13l entersinto a thread' oriecapfl v vh'i-ch preferably extends into an'iixingV tubefnot shown).

The valve is provided'with a springfcapg1 7 formirig,a. casingor'cover over the forwardportion of the' valve. Withinthe'y case 11 is a plug member 18 hav'- ingfa stem 19- which extends forwardlythrough'fthe spririgizapl'zfandpn which is aremovably 'secured lknob'- or-dial rnemberZQf Associated with the stem I9: is`Y ae stbp: s leerew 21` which has V a projection` 22 which c o'- 9fand the plug 18Y may not'be turned: beyond the position Whenrotated in a couhterclockwise di'- re'ctio'or theffonf positionwhen;rotatedin'the.clockwise direc "exil The springgcap 17 is bolted-to the casing, 111 in' whiliyis locatedvin! the forward portionof the. plug-18 and the-threaded portion of'which" projects rearwardly thoti'ghfjthefplug Also, within the? hollow vofV casing-'1 1 Y and teles coping into plug 118l isl acupfshaped's1eeve26r- This sleeve member 26 has a center portionf-2-7"projectinggrforwardlg into f the hollow of; the,l sleeve and) -conthe provision" off" a valve" contains relatively' few parts andwhich 'is relatively easy' longitudinally 'movableY member can be furtherevef2'6itaken at'right anglesh to the sectionY of'v itha shelf 23- projecting `from the spring'fcapmittthe movement ofthe kno'b 20.. Thus; the" tains a threaded area into which the screw 25 is threadedf The sleeve alsoV contains" a keyoi'u projection 28` extending rearwardly in the yalve which ts into a stationary slotted member 29. This may be seen more clearly by referring to Figs. 3 and 4. The screw 25 is resiliently held in position by an ol centered screw 30, threaded into the plug 18 and extending through an offcenter opening in the hadofscrew 25. A spring 31 bears on the head' o fscrew` 2 5, arrdfat` its opposite end on the head of screw 30. Bearing on the other side of the head'ofifscrev/ZS is anoliliquelyextending adjustment screw 32 threaded: through the head of. plug 18. It will ben note-d that this" adjus'tr'nent'i screw is' wholly within the sprin'g'lcaplJz'- Thefadjust'r'n'ent vscrew 32 acting on screw 25 positions the sleeve 26 as may be desired, since spring 31 maintains screw 25 always in contact with screw 32. Positioned around stem 19 of plug 18- is a spring- 33.v 'l`he spring 33 maintains the. stop sleeve 21, andthe plugllis'correct position.- p Referring to Eiga-1, 5 and6, the plug-18-is formed with al slot", 34 whichin certain positions lcommunicateslwith,` inlet port 1 2fwhich, as is explained in more detail belov\f, l allows *gas Vtc'ypassinto the.' hollow of the valver Referringgtofl-iggd, aslot 35, as? explained bef thefplug is rotated to'a cer- Referring to Fig$f13,gaigdfS-,the sleeve 26 is formed withavtapered-'port- 36. The sleeye26 is `partially tele scopedinto plug- 18- so that a portion of port 36 is ex posed.l to; void 37 .1 Key 28 isuloosjely projected into the slot 38;, which "is also, port 13,'with sujcient room'for fluid to pass around-itlV Sleeve isfreejto move 1on-` gitudinally;t however, fkey" Zprfevents rotationA of sleeve1 26; As can b e'seeninI Figs.- Irv andy 5, thefnarrow end of'l the-- tapered port Y36 Aprojects 'beyond plug-18 iny ac-N cordancej with the-longitudinal positionf of the l sleeve 26.v `'I'heoperation ofthe valve' in Fig. l will ber obvious from/the descriptionof theyalve as shown in Fig. l in the-full "fol position.' Slot.'35 communicates. withV inlet'p'ort 12 so that-*fluid may passtfreelyfint'o'thel open' areaof casing'11 bypassing sleev'e26 andinto area37'. From area 37;it mayl pass: freely throughslot 38v around`v key:281-and;throughoriice` cap-16nto a mixing tubeandl thence-*tothe burner. If'the valve' is turned counterclockwise: so that p1ug`f18 and thus stem 19 andgsleeve 21- 'are rotatedfuntilf projection 22 contacts'stop' 23, the valve is; inthe off position: InV thisfposi'tio'n; neither sloty 35` nor elorigatedf slot- 34 communicates; with; inlet port 12 andi no fluid may pass linto plugflSg-sleevef 26, or'void37., Also; screw4 25 hasrv rotated` withfthe plug'l while sleeve 26 has been prevented from rotating by keyv 28f'and` slot`38 andha'sthus: moved longitudinally forward-due to A,theactionoftlle Vthreading-1of screw-25 into thefthreadedzprojection;21 off'sle'eve' 26.- The'movement" ofqsleevev 26forwardt in'sthervalve hastcl'osed off' the area"V of.: port 36'projecti`ng beyond the rearward edge of plug' 18;' If the'knob:` Zr is: rotated clockwiseto. the position marked: on the'knob forlthe'smallest or' simmer ar'ne' at 'thef burner; at; 4least a part'of 'elongated slot `34 com'- munic'ates with: inletfpo'rt 12 so as: to allow'fluid" to pass fromfport; '-12 through: slot :314 into-`plugf18 and 'sleevez261 Duejto thezrotatiorr'offscrew 25 inra clockwisedirection', sleevey26t hasmovert a 'shorttdistanc'elongitudinally rear; wardly in the valve so as to extend a small portion`oftv port 36. beyond the ieanedgefof^plug18.z Asmalll amount ofeilid/ 'is" thus`3- I11eter'edt- `out offthe 'exposed' area of 'port 36 into; voirlf37 vand thus fthrbu'ghslot 3.8,? orilieef': 391' and" on to the burner.

VThe valyeI in this-pbsition then be adjusted by turningg'fscrew-32fto mo'vef-sci'ew: 25 longitudinallyand'y screw-25 and-sleever26s will be displaced'forwardlydue tofthe, forward fpres'sure-onthe lheadfof screwff25 exerted" byfsprin'gfill 'around thesscrew'30. If@ screw 3Zfisfturned"Y tofpushzthe-head ofscreW-fZS againstthe ptessurebfspring-J 31, screw 25 and sleeve 26 will be displaced rearwardly. Adjustment of screw 32 determines exactly the area of port 36 extending beyond plug 18 by the longitudinal movement of sleeve 26. Thus, for a given setting of knob 20 is a desired heat-rendering llame in simmer position may be obtained by the proper adjustment of screw 32 regardless of the liuid source.

As knob 20, and thus stem 19 and plug 18, are further rotated in a clockwise direction to various predetermined positions on the knob, it can be seen that slot 34 will continue to cooperate with inlet 12 so as to allow gas to flow into plug 18 and sleeve 26. Also, any further clockwise movement of knob 20 and plug 18 from the simmer position causes further rearward longitudinal movement of sleeve 26 and thus an increase of open area of port 36 through which tiuid wil ow. Thus, for each position ofthe knob nearer to the on position, a correspondingly larger burner flame is provided. The adjustment of the simmer position of knob 20 to a desired predetermined heat-rendering flame effects each position ofthe knob in that a correspondingly larger or smaller area of port 36 is available at each position so 'that one adjustment of the simmer flame provides equivalent standard heat-rendering ames for each of the other predetermined positions on knob 20. It is of course obvious that the adjustment of the burner flame could bemade aty any given setting of the knob and other positions should then render desired predetermined heatrendering flames regardless of the source of gas.

When the valve approaches and is in the full on position, both void 35 and slot 34 may cooperate with inlet 12 so that there is no position of the plug in this area in which gas is prevented from owing from inlet 12 into void 24. In fact, both void 35 and slot 34 may cooperate with inlet 12 when the knob is in the full on position, the purpose of slot 35 being to assure a maximum ow of fluid through the valve.

In the modified embodiment shown in Fig. 7, the valve casing 41 has an inlet port 42 which enters through a boss 44 which may be connected to a gas manifold (not shown) and an outlet port 43 which leads into a threaded projection 45 and thence to an orifice cap (not shown) which extends into a mixing tube (not shown). The valve is provided with a spring cap 47 covering the forward part of the valve. The plug 48 is provided with a stem 49 extending forwardly through the spring cap 47. A knob (not shown) iits snugly over stem 49. Stop sleeve 51 fits snugly around stem 49 so as to rotate with stem 49 and plug 48 until projection 52 of stop sleeve 51 comes into contact with a shelf 53 which is formed with spring cap 47. Thus, stem 49 and plug 48 may not be turned beyond the off position of the valve when rotated in a counterclockwise direction or the on position when rotated in the other direction. Spring cap 47 is bolted to casing 41 in any conventional manner. Plug 48 is hollow as at 54 and is formed with a longitudinal axial bore through which the relatively long screw 55 extends. Screw 55 is formed with a projection 46 which extends rearwardly into the hollow of the plug 48 or void 54. Projection 46 is provided with a threaded receptacle 69. Screw 55 projects forwardly through and beyond stem 49 and is threaded at 60. Nut 61 is threaded to screw 55 at 60 and screw 55 may be tightly secured to stem 49 by tightening nut 61. When nut 61 is tightened or drawn tightly to stem 49, the shoulder 50 of projection 46 of screw 55 is drawn up tightly against plug 48 so that screw 55 rotates with stem 49 and plug 48. Plug 48 is provided with an elongated slot 64 and a bypass slot 65. Stem 49 is provided with a spring 63 which bears against stop sleeve 51 and plug 48 in order to maintain the sleeve 51 and the plug 48 in spaced relationship. Partially telescoped into plug 48 and extending rearwardly therefrom is a cupshaped sleeve 56 which is formed with a threaded projection 57 extending forwardly into the hollow of plug 6. 48 and void 54 and is threaded into the threaded area 69 of projection 46 of screw 55. Sleeve 56 is formed with tapered port 66 and is also provided with a rearwardly extending key 58 which extends loosely through slot 68 of stationary slotted member 59. On the most forward end of screw 55 is a screw driver receptacle 62.

The operation of this embodiment is similar to the embodiment previously described. The threaded area of the cup shaped sleeve 56 and the adjustable screw 55 must be reversed if the effect of rotating the knob in one direction or another is to be the same a-s the previous embodiment. A feature not obvious from the description of the operation of the previous embodiment is the adjustment of -sleeve 56 for a standard heat-rendering flame for a given position of the knob. To adjust the llame, the knob is set at the simmer or any given position. The knob is removed and nut 61 is loosened. Screw 55 is then revolved. Depending, of course, upon the direction of the pitch of the threaded area of projection 57 of sleeve 56 and area 69 of projection 46 of screw 55, by revolving screw 55 in one direction sleeve 56 and thus port 66 will move forward longitudinally and if revolved in the other direction sleeve 56 and thus port 66 will move rearwardly longitudinally thus opening and closing the area of tapered port 66 available for uid flow and adjusting the flame for any given setting of the knob.

While the above descriptions and illustrations 'set forth the valves of the present invention, various obvious changes and modifications can be made to each embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A valve comprising a hollow valve casing having an inlet port and an outlet po-rt; a nonrotative member positioned in said hollow and a rotative member also positioned in said hollow and associated with the nonrotative member, said nonrotative member and rotative member both being hollow and said hollow areas adjoining one another, the rotative member being formed with an elongated slot which at times cooperates with said inlet port to effect a ow of iluid into the hollow area of said rotative and nonrotative members, said nonrotative member partially telescoping into said rotative member, said nonrotative member being provided with a threaded recess which engages a threaded screw which is a'ixed to the rotative member and projects into the nonrotative member 'so that when the rotative member is rotated, the nonrotative member moves telescopically in relation to said rotative member, said nonrotative member being provided with a tapered port which at times lies contiguous with one edge of the rotative member, said edge providing a metering edge which cooperates with said tapered port upon said telescopic movement so as to effect a gradual adjustment of the flow of fluid out of the hollow recesses of said rotative and nonrotative members and into the outlet port, means for rotating said rotative member and separate means including a portion of said rotative member for adjustment of the longitudinal position of the nonrotative member relative to the rotative member.

2. A valve comprising: a hollow casing having an inlet port and an outlet port; a hollow rotative open-ended plug positioned within said casing, formed with an elongated slot through the side walls thereof, arranged to register with said casing inlet port at various positions of said plug; a hollow cup-shaped sleeve positioned within said casing, partially telescoped into said hollow open ended plug, having its open end facing the opposite direction of the open end of said hollow plug, keyed to said casing to prevent rotation, longitudinally movable, formed with a tapered port which cooperates with the edge of the open end of said plug; a screw positioned in said plug, rotatable with said plug and threaded to said hollow cupshaped member, means to rotate said plug to effect longitudinal movement of said sleeve in accordance with the 7. pitch'off'said screw, said longitudinal movement effecting the position of thek tapered port' relative to the edge of the'open end of saidplugto effect aA gradual adjustment of the' ow of g'as'through* said tapered port and means indepenent of' rot'a'tioriI of sa'idhollow plugfor adjusting said serevv for moving ysaid sleeve longitudinally of said hollow plug to vary the` longitudinal position of said tapered port'to the edge of the opn'e'nd of said plug, said independent' rnean'snormally restraining'said screw against longitudinal movem'entrelativev to said'hollovvplug.

3. AI valve" asinl claim 2` wherein" said independent mean's'coniprises a spring eompressed between' the head of said screw and aA member secured to theA plu'g `for resiliently urgingsaidv screw longitudinally of said hollow of1 theY plug and: anv eceentrica'lly positioned screvvl ttedto said' plug and ybearing on the' headY of said` screw;

4; A'valve for controlling atop' burner of'a gasd cookingrange'comprising'acasinghaving an: inlet port and an'outlet'poit; a member comprising? anopen ended holl lovv rotative tapered plug formed with a slotY extending through aside Wall thereof at'times'reg'i'stering with said inletV port and at such` times,y allori/ingV passage of gas from saidinlet'portto tli'e'hollow of'said plug; a member comprising an open ended cup shaped sleeve havingl a tapered port formed in' aside wall thereof, having a portion thereof threaded, and beingpositined atleast par` tilly in the'hollow tiriy said` plug Withtit's operi'end directed towardthe' closed end of' saidplug and longitudinally slidably mounted in'l saidplugandk said casing;y a second 8u threaded member positioned atjleast'partially in the hollow of said plugl and in threaded'entgagement with said cup shaped threadedmember; means for preventing rotationV of' one of said threaded members relative to said casing; means responsive `to rotation of the plug for rotating the otherof said threaded members so as toy cause the longitudinal movement of the non-rotatable threaded member; and one of said member-s other than said cup shaped member being formed with a metering edge which cooperates withl said tapered port upon said` longitudinal movement totefect a gradual adjustment of the ilow of gas through said tapered port; and separate means for adjusting the relative longitudinal position of said tapered port and said metering edge.

References Cited in the le of this patent A: UNH ED STATES PATENTS 1,805,850 Robinson 4 May 12, 1931 1,850,850 Peterson' Mar. 22, 1932 1,969,163 Stevenson Aug. 7, 1934 2,514,506y Mueller July 1l, 1950 2,561,531 Mueller July 24, 1951 2,595,160 Miller Apr'.` 29, 1952v iloiiG Inns'rsris'4 848,707 France or 1,939 560,418' Great Britain of 19214 

